HRM Municipal Election 2012

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Upwords

Do you think we should start a new thread? (I don't want to distract any further from the Prince Albert Rd. issue - I'm sure there's lots more to be said on that one and this is a broader topic ... and exploratory at best thus far.) I'm new to the forum - please advise.

There is a "HRM Municipal Election 2012" thread in the Business Politics and the Economy section. Maybe the mods could move some of these posts over there?

[ibnem2]

Originally Posted by someone123

We'll see what happens but I don't really expect Sloane to be re-elected given the redrawn boundaries. I think the new South End/Downtown district 7 is far more likely to go to Sue Uteck, which would be an improvement. Maybe we will finally have a downtown councillor with an appreciation for the area as a business district. Sloane seems to treat it as a kind of outgrowth of her own Gottingen neighbourhood. I doubt that voters living in condos along Spring Garden or whatever are thrilled with her. She almost lost in 2008 and had only 1144 votes.

The new District 8 is only maybe 1/3 Sloane's old constituents. If Patrick Murphy were to re-offer he'd probably have a better chance to win. I don't remember a ton about him from 2004-2008, but the fact that he hasn't done anything horrible enough to be memorable places him in front of many other councillors.

I think it's pretty likely that the new council will be an improvement over the old one. The only big risk I see is more Watts/Barkhouse-style candidates -- so the equivalent of a Bev Miller getting one of the districts that's up for grabs. Not a pleasant thought!

Heard rumours that Karsten may be re-comsiderring his options, probably due to re-organization of the districts - That would be a pity. Karsten's district has been consolidated with Barkhouse's. People need to get behind this and let Karsten and other good leaders know that there is support. Given that it only takes in the 1,000 to 2,000 range of people to get elected (20% voting) it would not take much to get the people in a state of Glori-apathy out to vote ... if they have a cause and if one person tells the other.

Social media is changing a lot of things - did you guys hear about wikipedia and other sites shutting down SOPA last week ...

So Facebook, twitter, google and many other forums can be leveraged to effectively get people talking, get them excited and get them voting. It's hard to contest common sense and reason in the face of stupidity so it's just a matter of getting them interested. Easy - Right !

[ibnem2]

Originally Posted by Jringe01

I agree this is about corruption and leadership that's why I asked about the study. IMO it needs to be used to damage her credibility...someone needs to be asking the tough questions...if she lies about this then what else is being hidden? Why is she so careless to lie about a fact that can be so easily disproved, in other words what are her REAL motivations for killing this???? The building is too tall...I don't believe her, all her excuses seem like a smokescreen to me...I hope someone is calling her on it.

I am just a simple guy, no real education beyond high school and I don't usually have a lot of time to keep up on this forum that I dearly love for a city I still dearly love (MTL dweller), let alone have time to dig around for staff reports (though I wish I did ) so that's why I asked about the wind study. I would like to write to her an e-mail expressing my disappointment and questioning her faulty reasoning and wanted confirmation that the wind study existed before I referred to it, I wouldn't want her to come back and say it's not there and have her be right.

If any of you have experience in letter writing of this sort (I don't) and would like to see the text before I send it, PM me. Input/feedback would be welcome

I hope I didn't offend you with my comments. I now understand your point.

On the wind study, my understanding is that it is normally released before a scheduled hearing along w other reports. Since a hearing was never scheduled, it may never be released (unless they go to appeal). Given that staff recommended the project (and they should know what they're doing), you should simply refer to the premise of a "positive staff" report and not worry about the details (i.e., that's what HRM staff is for and that's what the councillors are supposed to rely on as well).

On writing a letter, the more it comes from you the better it will read. Suggest you send to all the councillors and copy Mayor Kelly.

cheers ...

[halifaxboyns]

Just picking up the conversation about the Dartmouth Development proposal that got shot down and some 'call to action' - is it me, or is this whole issue with McClusky becoming a really big thing? I'm not saying that's bad - but it's not going away, it's staying in the media and it seems she's getting hit by email and phone calls about all this?

I think Keith's analysis of council is pretty accurate, however I'm not sure what's going to happen with Watts/Sloane. I suspect it will be a mutual cancellation of votes - because wouldn't they end up running for the same 'seat'? If so, I suspect Sloane's supporters won't like Watts and vise versa.

Councillor Blumenthal did announce he was retiring and it is a shame about Councillor Rankin's health, although I don't know how much of a contribution he's really been.

I think if development issues and public opinion are going to be an issue for the election - then people should be asking questions about those things. Frankly, go to debates and ask about the whole lack of public input or people's opinion's on development. Keep the issue up front and centre.

[gm_scott]

^ Yes, please get rid of Dalrymple. He hasn't done a good job at all.

[fenwick16]

Is Sheila Fougere available to run as a Councillor? I read that she was a Councillor in District 14 (Connaught-Quinpool) before running and losing as a Liberal MP candidate in 2004 (by a close vote) and loss the Mayoral vote in 2008 but got a large number of votes.

Based on past HRM recorded votes, she is pro-development and voted for the Trillium, Alexander and United Gulf Towers, and other developments.

If she ran, which new district would she be in?



There is a Wikipedia page on the results of the 2008 vote - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Reg...,_2008#District_14:_Connaught_-_Quinpool

[Dmajackson]

Tim Outhit is a shoe-in since the only change in his riding is the addition of Royale Hemlocks (already heavily tied in with Bedford right now). He has proven his dedication quickly and will win by a landslide if even challenged.

Debbie Hum is an almost guarantee since she is losing the part of her district that is not strongly behind her.

Brad Johns will likely win the new Middle/Upper Sackville area.

If reoffering Bob Harvey will win by a landslide.

Watts will beat-out Sloane provided Blumenthal is retiring. I'll likely be voting in this race.

[fenwick16]

I can understand the appeal of Jennifer Watts for people who are involved in active transportation since she seems to support that concept. On the other hand, I shutter to imagine the height limits for the Central Pan if she is involved in the decisions (I imagine height limits of 10 - 20 meters throughout the peninsula). Jennifer Watts seems to be against just about everything except active transportation and more green space. I think she would be better suited as a rural Councillor than a city Councillor.

[q12]

Epstein says he'll stay MLA, not run for mayor

Scott Simpson Feb 03, 2012 12:59:41 PM

http://www.news957.com/news/local/article/326914--epstein-says-he-ll-stay-mla-not-run-for-mayor

A member of the Nova Scotia Legislature who's been talked about as a potential candidate to run for mayor of HRM against Peter Kelly says he will not be doing so.

MLA Howard Epstein, who represents Halifax-Chebucto in the Dexter Government, would have had to to resign his seat in order to campaign for mayor, and he says he doesn't want to do that.

Epstein says he kept running into people encouraging him to run, and he's frustrated with the status quo.

He says he'll keep encouraging good people to run for council seats.

Mayor Kelly's leading opponents so far include Tom Martin, Fred Connors and Mike Savage, who's expceted to announce his intention to run on Monday.

Howard Epstein's definition of good people:

Communist, save the view, stop all development heritage NIMBY wing-nuts.

Did I miss anything?

[cormiermax]

Kick that fool out of office already, please.

[resetcbu1]

At least he won't be our next mayor

[worldlyhaligonian]

Good people... as opposed to bad people... the rhetoric makes me sick.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Good people... as opposed to bad people... the rhetoric makes me sick.

Shhh!! Do not speak against Der Kommissar!!!

[gypsy]

I believe Mike Savage will enter the contest for mayor this week. I am concerned about Fred Connors. I think he is well meaning but maybe he should look at being a councilor or other elected office before throwing in his hat for mayor? He also has a lot of irons in the fire and being a decent mayor is an 80 hour a week job.

Like some of the others who have posted here I fear that the candidates trying to unseat Peter 'Which Way Does the Wind Blow' Kelly will split the vote and we will be saddled with Mayor Kelly yet again.

[Keith P.]

Connors will not be a factor.

I am less than convinced that Mike Savage is the savior many are making him out to be. He did nothing as a MP for many years and as a Liberal he has taken no stand on anything except for political expediency. More concerning is that he has assembled a group of backroom supporters that consist of many NDP types. Worrisome in that without a political philosophy of his own, he will follow their lead to pay back debts if elected.

While a trained seal would be better than Kelly, we could do a lot better than Mike Savage.

[DB15]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

While a trained seal would be better than Kelly, we could do a lot better than Mike Savage.

such as?

[kph06]

News 95.7 is reporting Waye Mason is running for District 7, Peninsula South Downtown.

[resetcbu1]

Originally Posted by kph06

News 95.7 is reporting Waye Mason is running for District 7, Peninsula South Downtown.

Haven't heard from him on here in a while, he musta been gearing up for this... wonder who'd be worse him or sloane lol?

[kph06]

Originally Posted by resetcbu1

Haven't heard from him on here in a while, he musta been gearing up for this... wonder who'd be worse him or sloane lol?

I think he will be going up against Uteck, as she will remain the southend councilor, I bet Sloane will run in Downtown/Northend. I think it would be pretty hard to uproot Uteck from the Southend.

I'm not sure if I have missed it earlier, but has there been any talk if Fougere will run for her old seat at council? I would like to see her back over Watts.

[Waye Mason]

Originally Posted by kph06

I think he will be going up against Uteck, as she will remain the southend councilor, I bet Sloane will run in Downtown/Northend. I think it would be pretty hard to uproot Uteck from the Southend.

I'm not sure if I have missed it earlier, but has there been any talk if Fougere will run for her old seat at council? I would like to see her back over Watts.

Dawn and Sue are both likely to run in the new district.

The new district is huge... it runs from Jubilee to Oxford, up to Quinpool, across to North Park, then up to Cornwallis, and along Cornwallis to the Harbour.

So I might be running against Sue and Dawn. But I am running in a new district that neither can claim to be the incumbent of, so it will be a very interesting race.

Mostly I am running for change.

I won't be on the board all that often as I will be knocking on doors, but more info is on the website: http://wayemason.ca